Hostage in prison

This is not the first time I come across this scenario. In fact, it’s the third time. Ibtisam Al Dakhil, a woman who was accused of supporting the Iraqi regime during the invasion, had to spend more time in jail than she was supposed to. She was pardoned by the Amir but because some civil servant didn’t agree with His Highness, the pardon letter was conveniently misplaced. Almost two years later, the Amiri pardon had to be re-issued for this woman to be released. Still, with the help of diplomats, her lawyer and friends, it wasn’t easy to get her out of Kuwait. For about two weeks, the Ministry of Interior kept playing games to further delay her release and I had to rebook her flight ticket twice before she was allowed to leave Kuwait.
Also, there is the case of another woman, Sabiya Saleh, who was found guilty of committing adultery and is still in Central Jail after serving more time than she was sentenced for. Of course, because she is a bedoun, nobody cares about her situation. Not only this woman is being denied freedom, she is also being denied the psychiatric care she needs due to the severe deterioration of her mental condition which requires immediate attention.

Kuwait Times, Wednesday, April 27, 2006
by Muna AI-Fuzai

Can you imagine yourself forgotten in jail? You have committed a crime and were sent to prison for ten years and then simply forgotten there. Twelve years later no one is bothered to review your file and find out why you are still locked up?
This is a real agony. A local Arabic daily recently told this man's story. I have to admit that this catastrophe was not completely new to me. I heard and received emails about similar circumstances. Most of the expatriates who send me similar emails want to keep their names out of the newspaper for fear of retribution but the new press law prevents the cover of source identity and obliges the writer to present stories with full and clear details.
On August 22, 1994 a Kuwaiti man was charged with forgery and theft. He received three suspended orders in jail. Each one of them was due for twenty-one days. On August 27, 1994 he was sent to prison and received a court sentence of ten years in jail. In 1996 he was included in the Amiri Amnesty but was not allowed to leave the prison until today.
Now we are in 2006 and this man is still in jail two years after-his sentence is up. He served more years than he should. This man should be out, a free man. He finished his period and the question is why is he still in jail?
This is not a movie script but a real tale that is actually happening now in Kuwait. What should we call it? Human rights violation or maybe the spread of corruption has reached the prison and caused a severe pain to this man and prevented him from leaving the jail and live freely even after paying his debt to society?
What can this man do? He sent a letter to an Arabic daily about his trouble and I also present his problem today for more sharing until this man is free. His condition is unacceptable and the Minster of interior should act urgently to at least review the case.
The man's status is unfair and contradicts all human laws. I'm fully confident that the Minster of Interior is an honest man and he will do his best to release this man and maybe others in the same position.
I also urge the Minster of Interior to investigate the holding orders in the police stations. There are some complaints from expatriates being held for days with no charges or in simple cases such as not carrying their civil ID. And until the sponsors decide to show up, it might be too late and the reputation of Kuwait might be endangered too.

munaalfuzai@kuwaittimes.net